Tank construction



'Oct. 1,' 1935. J CLAUSEN 2,016,228

TANK CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 25, 1933 FIG. 1.

Patented Oct. 1, 1935 L ttachin This invention: re latess'j tQJiinni Qyern entS liquefieitanks or containersjadaptedto re'cenre gas or otherfluids under high p, ssuregj The primary object of the invention is the pi s-j vision of improyedn eansifor sealing the closures of liquefier tanks suchl'as are'adapted to'receiye; carbon di x e; amlgt .11, 4.1 and twh ei h'me internal pressure is igcon'siderably; above atmosfj pheric; the hniar'oved L means insuiring v, that' he" closure plategln' ay jbei properl tceini q ijni the tank during placement, iridefiendent of lthe posia tion of the tank, whether vertical, horizontal or inciiriedQwithoutj, eccentric ally' squeezing the a et, A II. If .Qther oh ect". andj .advant gee of thisunyen tionwi ll be apparentfldurihgth cour Qfthe'following detailed description,

In the accompanyingjdrawm of this specification ,fand,f hereinis mfl r refer ence characters deSi nate ,Qconj'esDQndi parts throughout the seye'r'alwiews, Figure 1 is a frag tarysectional View upper portion of the hi'gh pres sure tanlgj A tainer,. showing more particularly "the "impr oyed gasketclamping st'tu'ctureflinafssociation with he I tankibddyandclosurje. n 1-:

Figure Zis l mgm ntaiyside eleyation partly in section, 015 liquefi'ei or high gaspressuretank or container of the type now coming into. glleral use for receiving phase changeable material, such as"so1id-carbo n" dioxide', ins-connection with which my invention is most adaptablew 'ur 'fif top plan iew of an gasket clamping ring -associated' of the tank. n u H W m Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on the-line 44'of.'Figure 3.1 m r-q; Figuret5 is'an enlarged fragmentary viewshow ing me'ans to insure the proper, placement of the closureuplate' in the tank :body sothatthere will t i be no circumferentialzmovement ofithe glosure plate during the'clamping of-gthe samein position,

the losure and thus eliminating the;possib ity of injury. t9

the; gasket 1 structure.,- r; r v

i In the drawing; wherein fem-thew ,pu nq e .Q i illustration I'isshownonly apreferrediembodiment of the: :inventi0n,= 'the liquefier 1 tank; structure 1 5 includes a'i cylinder; shell- 01 1 tank :bQdM 1. m? 91, sure plate H4, 1 a: closure elamping and ;r I aining ring orsmember ll agasket l'3 aggaeket ine d sha i -inmate: member I! nd asket" ampinew e r;member 'I'hettankisbodyflclosurep 1ate, ine m??? br, gask t pa at ngiaringmand eaeke 5 9 am?- mg member are preferably rge met 1.

burg Steel Gorporatioma-corporation ofillfenn ains, 193;, Serial N 13mins. (daze-her proved y enelrate 1%,

The cylinder shell I0 is if preferably :a seamless fd 'ei'ng' with a-dome-shaped bottomi li-having-a drain nipple'" I6" atit's 1 lowerzend wherein a plug or drain alve may be pbsitioned.,@ uThis shell forging may be" manufactured :after the cylinder 5 I'Iithod setf forth in U. SlxPatentk #1,948,437, I and the tank is pr ovided with asuitableilrelietzvalve and -5 suitable valve to" zcontrcl the, exit; of gases fr m the tank; in accordance :with thegiprinciple enumerated in my i CO-pendingv application Serial 10 Nb'."-589,273;*fi1ed January:27;1932n- 1 The eylinder shell 0.;at its upper; end ;is met: er' ahly prcx'iided WitH'anannuIar inwardly extend; ing "flange" 20 ibe1ow1 thev top; :edgei12 I) %-thereof, to

fir ov e a gasket seating shou1der1w22atacing the 15 I one 1ng-in the Shelli"; This 1: shoulder, mayhave a v "ricavely"surfaced5 fi11etr23 where it: merges into r he annular-closure platen-seator shelf '24, This shelf" 24 is in 3 e; 511313118 at -;right angles; to the axis of the tank body and also faces the open- 20 mg of the shell; 'It lredeivespthe ;c1oS1,1,re platev l l inresting engagementthereon. The opening in the shell below the top edge 21 and .aJWvev the shoulder 24" is internally screw-threaded at ,30 to intfengage" 'witha'the: threads upon the outer 25 periphery ofthe clamping; ring or member IZ.

The" screw threads 30terminate in, spaced relatibn above the shoulder-5:24; for; a considerable distance; iand thisspacenbelowrithe setew threads 30 the closure plate H-isadaptedto seat, 30

'I'he closure plate I I is preferably a s-zfilat forgingf-wnicfi at'its cutere ma'i'gin has .321 depending skirt flange '35 adapted ito'qseatk on the shoulder 243 This flarigevat i'its iouterfedge isvvof; the same W16 5 the shoulder" orldseat: 24.; and hasz-a gon 35 Ca @13 surfacd' fill t 31*hirging; intotthe lower su face f the p1at'e*adjacent to the skirt: This provided "with a handle 404?. Whe nn the plate It atsthe :inner; nor bottom surfa'c fthereof is 's'paceda'fromtthez gasket seat 40 in'g' shou1de'r -22 to: :provide an itannular groove wherein" hegasket"I3'isireceived;and :compressed I so that the same may clamp against-the closure althou h-thaw? the closure'plate I I. The screw threaded connection of the clamping ring or member I2 with the shell Ill may be of the continuous thread construction or panels of interrupted screw threads may be provided upon these parts as set forth in my co-pending application Serial No. 589,273.

To prevent rotation of the closure plate I I during rotation of the ring I2 to clamp the plate upon the gasket, I provide a slot 36 opening laterally into the tank shell and into the mouth end of the said shell wherein is adapted to be received a radially extending lug 31 provided on the outer periphery of the closure plate II. It is readily apparent that the plate I I must always be lowered so that this lug enters the slot 36, thus definitely positioning the same against rotation.

. Referring to the gasket construction, the same includes the yieldable and distensible gasket member I3, of soft rubber, leather, or other composition material, which is ring-shaped, and in cross section channel-shaped, being provided with a channel facing the axis of the ring, designated at 6 I. The upper and lower .flanges 62 and 63 thereof are adapted to engage respectively the lower surface of the closure plate II and the shelf 22 of the tank shell Ill, and the arcuate bight portions 65 thereof engages the contiguous walls formed by the fillets 23 and 31 across the juncture of the closure plate with the seat 24 of the shell Ill. The lower surface of the closure plate II where it is adapted to contact with the flange 62 of the gasket is provided with annular concentric ribs 64 and 65, and correspondingly the shelf or seat 22 is provided with concentric ribs 66 and 51. These ribs 64 to 61 are each continuous and unbroken and they are adapted to compress the material of the gasket to increase the sealing efficiency thereof. v

A preferably metal rigid shaping ring I4 is provided as part of the gasket construction, which includesa ring-shaped body portion 68 of any approved construction, although preferably having the upper and lower surfaces thereof parallel. This ring 68 at the inner margin thereof is provided with a centering skirt or extension 69 projecting at right angles to the plane of the ring. The body portion 68 of this shaping ring of course extends into the channel way. SI of the gasket proper, so as to permit the clamping of the upper and lower flanges of the gasket thereagainst and between the closure plate II and the seat 22 of the tank body III. The centering skirt or extension 69 is of such size that the same will just fit into the tank body Ill inwardly or below the seat 22. Since the gasket retaining member I5 is clamped into position to hold the shaping ring I4 in predetermined centered loctation with respect to the closure platel I it can readily be understood that the annuar lip or skirt 69 of the shaping ring will properly center the closure plate II and its gasket structure in the tank body III as the skirt 89 is lowered into the tank I!) inwardly of the seat 22; If desired, thelower outside peripheral corner-"of the skirt BBLf'may be convexly rounded to assist the centering of the closure plate.

15 adapted to engage in seating relation with the annular shoulder 11 provided on the inner or bottom surface of the closure plate I I to axially center the retaining ring I5 with the closure plate,

and to space the body portion I5 from the under surface of the closure plate. The outer mar-' ginal corner of the body I5 of this clamping ring I 5 is removed as shown at 80, to provide a seat for the inner corner portion of the skirt 69 of the shaping ring. The body I5 is provided with a plurality of bolt receiving openings 82 therein through which clamping bolts 83, shown in Figure 1, extend in order to clamp the retainingring or member I5 upon the inner surface of the closure plate I I and to clamp the shaping ring in centered relation upon the inner surface of the closure plate II. This holds the gasket proper I3 in position so that upon placement of the closure plate II in the mouth of the tank body, the en'- trance of the skirt 69 into the said tank body past the gasket seat 22 will insure the centering of the closure I I in the tank body and the proper seating of the gasket proper upon the seat 22.

The body I5 of the clamping ring I5 is provided with a, plurality of openings or ports 81 which open into the space between the bottom of the closure plate and the body I5, radially beyond the extension I6 for the admission of gases from the tank, so that they may pass therefrom through ducts 88 provided through the shaping ring and enter the channel groove of the distensible gas ket for inflating the same into sealing engagement across the juncture of the closure plate and tank body. A

Liquefier tanks are used not only in vertical position but also horizontal or inclined positions, and therefore the proper centering and pos'itioning of the gasket structure on the inner surface of the closure plate is important. It is particularly important where the tank is horizontally positioned to insure that the closure plate will be properly centered in the tank body during invention herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. In a high pressure container the combination of a tank body having an opening thereto and an outwardly facing shoulder in the opening, said shoulder being provided with individually continuous ribs projecting outwardly therefrom, a closure plate for fitting upon the container in the opening thereof and when in position having a surface spaced from said shoulder of the tank body to define an annular groove opening radially into the tank, said surface of the cover plate having individually continuous ribs facing in opposed relation with the ribs first mentioned, a distensible gasket in said groove engaging the shoulder and the surfacev of the cover plate whereon said ribs are disposed and extending at its bight portion across the juncture of the cover plate with said tank body, a rigid member in said gasket between the ribs of said shoulder and cover plate to permit mechanical compression of the gasket against said ribs, and means for venting asset's high pressures. nto.

"'nc'ture of the cove an essure v gas container hecom a losure'i for; the .iopenirigr having means hell, the closur when inzposition with respect to the "shell defining' a*gasket receiving groove t above the shoulder of the shell axdistensible gasketin said groove between said shoulderaand the closure having a distensible portion lying across s the r juncture line of the closure with the i shell, a rigid shaping member in thedistensiblegasket andlyingbetweensaidshoulder and the iacing surface of saidclosure and clamped, by applicationof the closure upon the.shelldirectlybetween the cover andsaidshoulder andcompressing-the gasket into" direct mechanical sealing 1 compres- H sion upon said shoulder: and the saidiacing sura face of said closure,--and means to vent, pressures "existing in the tank into the distensible gasket ;for forcing it into sealing compression across the juncture of the cl osure with theshellh ,3.;-Ina;clo sure gasket construction forf containers the combination. of a closure j'plate, ai distensible gasket, ring channel-shaped in 'format Y tion a Trigid shaping member disposed in-the channeloi the: gasket, having meansitherein openingiinto the gasket, said memberh-aviug a portion f extending jout oi the gafsketi arid clamptnereo 'ingm ns upon the'closure platle"directly engag- *ing said portion at theshapingmember wmch of the gasket for forcing the shaping extends out membeftoward's the under side of the closure,

plate and clamping one side of the gasket into compressed sealed connection between the shaping member and under side of the closure plate, the opposite side of said gasket lying in engagement freely against the shaping member in position to be clamped on a seat of the container in which the closure and gasket construction is to be used.

4. In a tank for holding fluids-under superatmospheric pressure, a tank body having .an opening thereinto, a closure for the opening, a flexible gasket in direct mechanical clamped sealing compression between'the closure and tank 'whenthe former is in position, means for directagainst said seat in sealing relation, means to transmit fluid pressures existing in the tank to the inner side of the gasket circumferentially thereahout, and other means to add to the me-- chanical COIIlIJl'GoSiOIl ofthe gasket upon its seat entirely thereabout between the zone of action of the fluid tank pressure against'the inner side of the gasket and the inside of the tank to prevent pressures existing in the tank from leaking therepast. I

tiforcing athe samennto gsealin zrelat a A ketythrcushqiit a t e .:the inner side of th ga =i-for the opening, a, flexible supported in the tank qisting within the tan U outra cirournferential zone ,agains ,;of thesaske st v 'nation of shellihavingmnaopeningfthereto nd i a shoulder -thereinv facing aroutwardly o I op ening;

to connect"it-in'ftheiropeningsto:providfiarrela- A tively rnin'ute metal to metalz 'contactr-juncture H, line in thetank between '%the same and said tank "it; into sealing -conta ct at juncture" of: the" and ha to addie sil h casket n etank "1 i dstun'dersuperat l :mospheric pressur at k odyhavinganfopeneat therein closure cha i rsiiap d sk he juncture of j the h me, d it seek tank body with the closure, arigid'shaping mem- ;,ber--,in the channel oif ,saidgasket overlying said -seat; meansto clamptha cl' unto the tank body ession oithe nd, shaping pr ssure sfex-j t e, "a ket'th q s heinnei", side 1 t 'int o,seal ing d" th th tank in order to prevent fluid pressures existing in the tank from leaking therepast.

8. In a tank for holding fluids under superatmospheric pressure, a tank body having an opening thereto and 'a gasket seat therein, a 010- sure fox-the opening, a flexible channel-shaped gasket supported in the tank across the juncture of the tank body with the closure, a rigid shaping member in the channel of said gasket overlying said seat, means to clamp the closure tothe tank body for direct mechanical clamped compression of the gasket between said closure, tank, and

shaping member, means for directing fluid pressures existing within the tank into the gasket throughout a circumferential zone against the inner side of the gasket to further compress it into sealing contact at the juncture of the tank body with the closure, and other means to add .to the mechanical compression of the gasket against the closure entirely about the gasket,between thezone of action of the fluid pressure against the inner sideof the gasket and the outside of the tank to prevent. pressures existing in the tank from leaking therepast.

9. In a high pressure gas tank the combination .of a tank body having an opening thereto and a gasket seat therein, a closure for said opening, and a gasket retained betweenthe said tank seat and the closure plate, said gasket being channel-shaped information and having a rigid 7 shaping member disposed in said channel and means in said rigid shaping member for admit- 75 ting fluid pressures existing within the tank into the gasket for further compressing it on said seat.

10. In a high pressuregas tank the combination of a tank body'having an opening thereto and a gasket seat therein, a closure plate for said opening, and a distensible gasket retained between the tank and the closure plate, said gasket being of channel-shaped formation and provided with spaced walls and a bight portion and having a rigid shaping membendisp'osed in the channel thereof, clamping means upon the closure plate directly clamping said shaping memher to the plate with one wall of the gasket in mechanically compressed and sealed connection oetween said shaping member and the closure plate, the other wall of said gasket lying directly inengagement against a surface of the shaping 1t -ember with the latter overlying said'seat where- )y said other Wall of the gasket is mechanically. compressed directly against the seat of the tank body when the closure plate is assembled upon the tank body, and means in said shaping member foradmitting pressures existing in the tank to the inside of the gasket for further compressing the same into sealing contact with the tank seat.

11, In a high pressure container the combina tion of a tank body having an opening thereto and a gasket seat therein; a closure plate for said opening having means to clamp the same upon the ank body without the necessity of rotating the loshre plate either to. clamp or unclamp the same with respect to said body, a gasket retained between the tank seat and the closure plate, said gasket being channel-shapedin formation and having a rigid shaping member disposed in said channel which overlies said seat whereby the gasket is mechanically compressed on said seat, and means in said shaping member for admitting pressures existing in the tank to enter the channel for compressing the gasket into sealing relation upon said seat.

12. In a high pressure gas tank the combination of a tank body having an opening thereto and a gasket seat therein a closure ulate for the opening, a flexible channel-shaped gasket supported in the tank across the juncture of the tank body with the closure, a rigid shaping member in the channel of said gasket and overlying said seat, means to clamp the closure to the tank body for direct mechanical clamped compression of one side .of the gasket between the closure plate and shaping member and with the other side of the'gasket between the shaping member and the tank seat, and means in said shaping member for admitting fluid pressures existing in the tank to enter the gasket about a circumferential zone for compressing it into sealing contact with said shaping member for admitting fluid pressures existing Within the tank into the gasket for further compressing it on said seat, said closure being adapted to be lowered-without rotation into resting position in said tank body in order to mechanically compress the gasket, and means to clamp said closure and hold it in gasket coma pressing relation without the necessity of rotating said plate.

, JENS CLAUSEN. 

